Why watch a movie when you can live it? Chicago was once a mecca for filmmaking before the industry moved West to California. However, the awe-inspiring skyline and dramatic scenery of the city has had directors ditching the sound stage for the real thing since 1920. If you're a movie buff, Chicago is truly "your kind of town."
CHICAGO FILM TOURS
See thirty sites in less than two hours aboard a luxury motor coach and learn all you need to know about 80+ movies shot in Chicago. From recent blockbusters like The Dark Knight and The Break-Up to iconic, local favorites like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Blues Brothers, Chicago Film Tours will put you right in the heart of your favorite movie scenes. You'll feel like a true Hollywood star - minus the craft service and overzealous paparazzo.
MOVIES IN THE PARK
The Chicago Park District offers "Movies in the Park" an outdoor film experience that combines the culture of the Chicago's neighborhoods with the natural beauty of its landscape. Watch movies shot in Chicago like The Fugitive while sitting in Fulton River Park, or settle in for a relaxing evening with the family at Durkin Park for Kung Fu Panda 2.
All movies begin at dusk and are totally free. The Park District presents movies at over 100 locations each year. For more information on times, titles, and locations, click here.
JUST EXPLORE
Sometimes the greatest discoveries are the ones you make on your own. Chicago has been featured in countless films, so famous scenes are all around you. Here are a few suggestions:
- The Blues Brothers: Check out the Chez Paul Restaurant on Rush Street and throw shrimp at your table guests like Jake and Elwood.
- The Color of Money: Shoot some pool at Chris's Billiards and see if your hustle game is as sound as Tom Cruise or Paul Newman.
- High Fidelity: Relive your awkward high school years like John Cusack's character, Rob. Many of the school scenes in High Fidelity were shot at the beautifully grand Lane Tech.
- The Dark Knight: Take a cab through lower Wacker where the highly explosive chase scenes between Batman and the Joker were shot.
- The Break-Up: Hop aboard a boat with Chicago's Mercury Cruises, the water component to Vince Vaughn's "Land, water and air" tour of Chicago in The Break-Up.
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Chicago's downtown area was destroyed in a battle between Autobots and Decepticons. But, lucky for you, the city has recovered and rebuilt itself in the wake of a near alien robot Armageddon. You may recognize the Jeweler's Building and Trump Tower along the river, which were heavily featured in the movie.
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Take a day to explore the city, but don't get caught by the incredulous Principal Rooney! Kick it like a couple of wise-cracking high school kids at The Art Institute of Chicago and peer down from over 100 stories in the air with the Skydeck at Willis Tower.
CHICAGO FILM OFFICE
The city's effort to attract the production of films, television shows, and commercials is led by the Chicago Film Office. Over the last 30 years, the organization has contributed to more than 1,100 features and television productions. For more information on current projects and special events visit our events calendar.
